Greetings from Little d, the cool North Texas city packed with creative aesthetics, culture, history, and unforgettable experiences. Denton is an original culture of arts, music, entertainment, shopping and community. Visitors are captivated by the city’s local businesses, shops, and deep-seated history, because it is here that self-discovery and inspiration permeate the city’s sense of […]

The sounds of saxophones, trumpets and drums resonate through Quakertown Park and electrify the city. Crowds gather on the grass to see all-day music. Nightly concerts feature world-renown headliners, this year Randy Brecker, Dr. John the Night Tripper and Denton’s own Grammy winners Brave Combo. An array of cold beer combines with aromas of everything […]

Thin Line Fest can show you what life is really made of with documentaries, live music and photography The neon marquee beckons as you walk up to the ticket booth. After purchasing your ticket, you enter through the double doors of the historic Campus Theatre. You purchase popcorn and a Coke at the theatre’s original, […]

Index and pinky fingers fill the surrounding void of air above energetic fans and bystanders. The sounds of deep, slow-tempo bass chugs roll through hundreds of the “rock-on” symbols, as the distorted guitar riffs rip through the crowd’s eardrums. The scruffy vocals of Al Cisneros, bassist and singer of the rock band Sleep, flatters the […]

Have you ever passed an eighteen wheeler, sipped a drink from a paper carton, put on a high school class ring, or walked by a brick home and wondered where those items were made? The answer could very well be right here in Denton County. The way that a community’s identity and character are perceived can be strongly connected to what a place makes or produces. Music, food, clothing, and culture are just a few of the items that can establish a location’s personality in the mind of the outside world. Denton County has built a large and colorful reputation through the things made right here in our community. From semi-trucks to ecofriendly packaging, beer to brats, our county’s legacy is one of craftsmanship and complexity with innovation that is as diverse as its innovators. .

A new exhibit highlighting “Locally Made” in Denton County opens October 21, 2014 at 9:00 AM with a ribbon cutting by the Denton County Commissioner’s Court and the Museums’ Committee. A reception with light refreshments will follow the tour of the exhibit.

This exhibit will be provided in English and Spanish. A hands-on corner will provide children with tangible learning through interactive activities and creative play. The west gallery theater room will be screening various “how it’s made” videos that feature the local companies in the exhibit.

The Courthouse-on-the-Square Museum is located at 110 West Hickory, Denton, Texas. All Courthouse Museum programs are free and open to the public. Handicapped parking and accessibility are through the north entrance.

This exhibition, which has run continuously since 1987, was the idea of local artist, Georgia Leach Gough. The name, Materials: Hard & Soft, refers to the entire range of fine craft. This competition and ensuing exhibition still draws the attention of fans of contemporary craft across the country. In 2006, the Texas Commission on the Arts designated this show as a “must see” exhibition in Texas. It is one of the premier craft exhibitions in the country.

The juror this year is Ana M. Lopez, a metalsmith, educator and decorative arts scholar. She has exhibited nationally and internationally including a major commission for the Indianapolis Museum of Art. She is the author of the reference book Metalworking Through History: An Encyclopedia. Ana organized the 2007 international biennial exhibition of the Enamelist Society, chaired the 2010 Education Dialogue for the Society of North American Goldsmiths’ annual conference and served as a Beta Site Testing Faculty for the craft textbook Makers: A History of American Studio Craft. She holds a MFA in Metalsmithing from the Cranbrook Academy of Art and a MA in the History of American Decorative Arts from The Smithsonian Associates and Parsons School of Design. Ana is currently Associate Professor and Area Coordinator of Metalsmithing & Jewelry at the University of North Texas where she teaches The History of Crafts.

This year, we received entries from 222 artists from all over the country, with a total of 592 pieces. Our juror chose 70 pieces for the exhibition.

As usual, the work submitted stretches the typical definition of craft. Typically, craft is defined as having a functional purpose to separate it from fine art. While there may be a reference to a purpose, these artists have stretched the boundaries of the craft definition. The skill of the artist in manipulating their chosen material is readily apparent. This opportunity to see first-hand the mastery of technique and manipulation of material draws viewers from many parts of the country.
The quality of work, as well as the duration of this exhibition, promotes Denton’s extraordinary artistic community. Drawing exhibitors and visitors nationally advances the perception that for two months Denton showcases the best craft in the country. The excellent work continues to stretch the boundaries of artistic expression. The member’s opening reception is Friday, February 6, 2015, 6:00 – 8:00 pm, recognition of awards at 6:45 pm.

To obtain additional information about the exhibit either visit the GDAC’s website, www.dentonarts.com, or call 940-382-2787. The Meadows Gallery is open Tuesday – Sunday, 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. All exhibitions are free and open to the public.

Food Science lab experiments and other creative culinary activities for children ages 9 to 14 are on the menu as the Texas Woman’s University Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences hosts its inaugural Summer Nutrition Culinary Camp June 22-26 on the university’s Denton campus.“We wanted to create a camp where kids could learn how to incorporate nutrition principles into making culinary delights,” said camp coordinator Angie Griffin, a visiting assistant clinical professor at TWU. “Food is a universal language that brings families and friends together.”Registration for the camp currently is under way. Early bird registration (before April 30) is $395. Regular registration is $450 and ends June 5. For more information or to register, visit www.twu.edu/nutrition-food-sciences and click on the “Summer Nutrition Culinary Camp” link.The camp is open to boys and girls. Classes will take place in TWU’s recently remodeled Food Prep Lab. Campers will participate in food science lab experiments, culinary nutrition cooking, exercise, healthy snacks and creative activities. The week will end with campers leading a culinary presentation for their parents.Campers will receive a spatula, recipe book, apron and a backpack.For more information, contact Angie Griffin at (940) 898-2658 or agriffin3@twu.edu.

On Tuesday February 17th, the Courthouse-on-the-Square Museum opens a new exhibit featuring watercolors by Dorothy Bertine. The Dorothy Bertine paintings will be displayed on the second floor of the Courthouse-on-the-Square. This exhibit sponsored by Historic Denton is ongoing through September 30th.

Dorothy Bertine, a native of Southern Oklahoma, is an artist known for her works in watercolor. Her art follows the California Watercolor School of painting developed in the first half of the 20th Century. Her studies in watercolor include nature scenes and historic houses. Dorothy Bertine received her Master’s Degree in Fine Arts from Texas Woman’s University and she resides in Denton. Her work is inspired by the architecture of the historic homes in Denton, and many of these artworks will be featured in this exhibit.

All Courthouse Museum exhibits and lectures are free and open to the public. The courthouse has handicapped parking and accessibility through the north entrance. The Courthouse-on-the-Square Museum is located in the historic Denton County Courthouse at 110 W. Hickory in Denton, TX.

Bassoonist Ann Shoemaker is known for her varied career as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral player, and educator. She has given guest solo recitals at universities across the country, she has been featured with the InterHarmony Music Festival orchestra, the Carolina Youth Symphony, the Colorado College Summer Music Festival orchestra and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro orchestra. Dr. Shoemaker was a founding member of the Relevents Wind Quintet, and has toured with the ensemble throughout the United States and Germany. She has also performed with the Jupiter Symphony Chamber Players, including concerts in Washington, D.C. and New York City. Dr. Shoemaker is currently the principal bassoonist with the Shreveport (LA) and Waco (TX) Symphony Orchestras. She has previously held positions with the Greensboro, Salisbury and Hendersonville Symphony Orchestras (NC). She has performed often with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra (TX), the Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Asheville (NC), Greenville (SC) Symphony Orchestras, and the South Carolina Philharmonic.

Dr. Shoemaker currently serves as Assistant Professor of Bassoon at Baylor University in Waco, TX and has previously been on faculty at Furman University, Davidson College, and the North Carolina School of the Arts. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Furman University, and a Master of Music degree from Yale School of Music, where she was awarded the Nyfenger Award for Outstanding Woodwind Performance. Dr. Shoemaker has additional training from numerous summer music festivals, including Aspen and Tanglewood. She recently completed her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she was a Hayes Fellowship recipient. Her primary teachers include Michael Burns, Frank Morelli, Carol Lowe, and Kevin Hall. Dr. Shoemaker is a Fox Bassoon performing artist.

Free admission.
Parking for concerts after 5 PM in the music building please use the lot on Highland Street located between Bain Hall and Music Practice South and North.

Have you ever passed an eighteen wheeler, sipped a drink from a paper carton, put on a high school class ring, or walked by a brick home and wondered where those items were made? The answer could very well be right here in Denton County. The way that a community’s identity and character are perceived can be strongly connected to what a place makes or produces. Music, food, clothing, and culture are just a few of the items that can establish a location’s personality in the mind of the outside world. Denton County has built a large and colorful reputation through the things made right here in our community. From semi-trucks to ecofriendly packaging, beer to brats, our county’s legacy is one of craftsmanship and complexity with innovation that is as diverse as its innovators. .

A new exhibit highlighting “Locally Made” in Denton County opens October 21, 2014 at 9:00 AM with a ribbon cutting by the Denton County Commissioner’s Court and the Museums’ Committee. A reception with light refreshments will follow the tour of the exhibit.

This exhibit will be provided in English and Spanish. A hands-on corner will provide children with tangible learning through interactive activities and creative play. The west gallery theater room will be screening various “how it’s made” videos that feature the local companies in the exhibit.

The Courthouse-on-the-Square Museum is located at 110 West Hickory, Denton, Texas. All Courthouse Museum programs are free and open to the public. Handicapped parking and accessibility are through the north entrance.

This exhibition, which has run continuously since 1987, was the idea of local artist, Georgia Leach Gough. The name, Materials: Hard & Soft, refers to the entire range of fine craft. This competition and ensuing exhibition still draws the attention of fans of contemporary craft across the country. In 2006, the Texas Commission on the Arts designated this show as a “must see” exhibition in Texas. It is one of the premier craft exhibitions in the country.

The juror this year is Ana M. Lopez, a metalsmith, educator and decorative arts scholar. She has exhibited nationally and internationally including a major commission for the Indianapolis Museum of Art. She is the author of the reference book Metalworking Through History: An Encyclopedia. Ana organized the 2007 international biennial exhibition of the Enamelist Society, chaired the 2010 Education Dialogue for the Society of North American Goldsmiths’ annual conference and served as a Beta Site Testing Faculty for the craft textbook Makers: A History of American Studio Craft. She holds a MFA in Metalsmithing from the Cranbrook Academy of Art and a MA in the History of American Decorative Arts from The Smithsonian Associates and Parsons School of Design. Ana is currently Associate Professor and Area Coordinator of Metalsmithing & Jewelry at the University of North Texas where she teaches The History of Crafts.

This year, we received entries from 222 artists from all over the country, with a total of 592 pieces. Our juror chose 70 pieces for the exhibition.

As usual, the work submitted stretches the typical definition of craft. Typically, craft is defined as having a functional purpose to separate it from fine art. While there may be a reference to a purpose, these artists have stretched the boundaries of the craft definition. The skill of the artist in manipulating their chosen material is readily apparent. This opportunity to see first-hand the mastery of technique and manipulation of material draws viewers from many parts of the country.
The quality of work, as well as the duration of this exhibition, promotes Denton’s extraordinary artistic community. Drawing exhibitors and visitors nationally advances the perception that for two months Denton showcases the best craft in the country. The excellent work continues to stretch the boundaries of artistic expression. The member’s opening reception is Friday, February 6, 2015, 6:00 – 8:00 pm, recognition of awards at 6:45 pm.

To obtain additional information about the exhibit either visit the GDAC’s website, www.dentonarts.com, or call 940-382-2787. The Meadows Gallery is open Tuesday – Sunday, 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. All exhibitions are free and open to the public.

THE MAGAZINE

Welcome to Denton, Texas.

Guests in Denton, like the nearly 125,000 people who choose to live here, have something quite definitive in common: we all seek uniquely-customized, Dentoncentric adventures within the cool vibe for which Denton has gained international acclaim. We call it original, independent.

Original is a spirit manifested in the physical fabric of our city. It is energy fueled by our universities, arts community, music industry, business community, the North Texas Horse Country, and our vibrant, no-faux-about-it downtown square. We hold originality in high regard.

Independent is more of the same spirit and springs from the same attributes as original. Consider our burgeoning music scene. Denton is known around the world for the music that’s been organically evolving here for many years. Interestingly, though, there is not a specific “Denton sound” that anyone can identify in a word. That is the result of original and independent. The sound is a combination of individual sounds where writers, musicians, poets and venues have their own messages, rhythms, tunes and atmospheres. Listeners get the entire breadth, as varied or not as they choose. And again, in the surrounding horse country, we have the most diverse equine population and disciplines in one area than anywhere else on Planet Earth. That’s independent, and it results in a lively, energetic culture.

People come to Denton in pursuit of their passions. Take local artist Darien Orr. She gained Etsy fame when her “Barbie and Ken Live the Denton Life” photographic note card series took off several years ago. Now Barbie is stepping out of the note cards and authentically “dentoning” (the experience of enjoying/discovering/exploring all that the great City of Denton, TX has to offer). Scores of female and male Barbie dolls in various states of restyle sit in neat lines in her studio. Clothing and shoes just their size are piled to the side, all part of her new product line called Dentoning Dolls. Every doll is unique, rescued from someone’s discards then thoughtfully bathed, styled and dressed to fit into the many nuances of Denton life. People adopt their Dentoning Doll, each with a name, a background, an official dentoning tee shirt, and a hashtag for sharing its dentoning adventures on Instagram. The dolls come packaged in a clear box, the background an artistic image of our Courthouse.

“Denton has cool things to offer,” Darien says while showing off a doll whose body was made in 1966. “Dentoning Dolls are a cool way of getting people interested in the bigger Denton experience.”

See what I mean? Original. Independent. And Darien is one among hundreds whose expressions are visual or musical or architectural or environmental or something that is so unique it has no label or category.